'Viable' accord with MILF sought as talks come to final stages

THE "final, crucial stages" of the peace talks with a secessionist Moro group began Wednesday with the government's chief negotiator saying that a "viable" agreement is targeted to solve the decades-old problems in Mindanao.

Marvic Leonen, peace panel chair of the government of the Philippines, said in his opening speech that they do not aim for a "perfect agreement" with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"Instead, we aim for an agreement that is viable -- one that produces the first platforms that can inspire both sides to build on the trust and confidence that we may now have with each other," Leonen said.

He added these "first platforms" will then be "magnified" as both parties face the "inevitable difficulties" that lie ahead once a peace agreement is signed.

In this round of talks, Leonen said the government will propose to discuss the remaining "contentious points" that will go into the framework agreement of both parties.

Although he admitted that the government and the MILF may have different positions on these issues, Leonen is confident that the peace panels of both parties will "consider the points that will be made" in the negotiations.

On Tuesday, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said government negotiators have entered what they hoped to be "the final, crucial stages of negotiations."

Deles added that the government peace panel "remains cautiously optimistic on the prospects of signing a government-MILF peace agreement this year."

She said over the weekend that both parties are continuing to create progress toward forging an agreement for an enduring peace in Mindanao.

"Bright prospects for peace are in the horizon as negotiations with the [MILF] are making headway," Deles said.

She noted that the Technical Working Groups of both parties have reached consensus on the issues on power sharing, revenue generation, and wealth sharing arrangements between the government and the proposed new political entity that would replace the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

"But there is also no denying that the issues still on the table will not be easy to settle as in critical details of power and wealth sharing, territorial scope, and normalization to include disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of the MILF’s troops," Deles added.

Last month, the MILF expressed its dedication to the peace process and also in settling the problems confronting the negotiation table.

"Let me assure everyone, especially the government, that MILF is a reliable partner in peace making," MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)